Rein attachment



(No Model.)

, J. L. STEINMETZ.

REIN ATTACHMENT.

No. 564,295. Patented July 21, 1896.

" UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JACOB L. STEINMETZ, OF LANCASTER,PENNSYLVANIA.

REIN ATTACHMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 564,295, dated July 21,1896.

Application filed October 30, 1895. Serial No. 567,366, (No model.)

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JACOB L. STEINMETZ, a citizen of the United States,residing in Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Rein Attachments, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in the manner of attaching reinsto the bits of horses when driven in pairs. Ordinarily, in so driving, arein is attached to the outer end of the bit of each horse, and fromeach of these reins a check or branch rein is crossed and attached tothe inner end of the bit of the other horse. Should one of the animalsbe more spirited than the other, or more willing, he will press ahead ofhis mate. This is undesirable, both because the team presents anunsightly appearance and because it throws an undue portion of the workon the more willing horse. To restrain this more willing horse,therefore, the pressure is on the main reinthat attached to the outerend of the bit. The effect of this is to draw upon one end of the bit,pulling on that side, and therefore unequally on the mouth of the horseand drawing his head outward. The object of my invention is to overcomethese objections, to draw equally on both sides of the bit of the horseto be restrained, and at the same time to guide him properly. Iaccomplish this object by the construction hereinafter described andthen pointed out in the claims.- In the accompanying drawings, whichform a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of apair of reins embodying my improvement, and Fig. 2 a similar viewshowing the action of said reins in turning a team. Fig. 3 is a top planView of my device, and Fig. 4: a similar View of a modified constructionof the same.

Similar letters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the details of the drawings, A indicates the rein of thenear horse; A, the checkrein connecting rein A with the inner end of thebit of the off horse; B, the rein of the off horse; and B, the checkreinconnecting the rein of the off horse with the inner end of the bit ofthe near horse.

The invention consists in the manner of attaching the main rein-with thebit; this is not connected with the outer end of the bit as is usuallydone. Instead of so connecting it I have astrap D or other connectionbetween the ends d of the bit. This connection is of such length as todepend or form a loop between such ends of said bit. To this connectionbetween the ends of the bit I connect the end of the main rein.

In describing the action of my invention I will take that of the rein Aof the near horse. This horse, being supposed to be the most spirited,presses ahead. The outer rein keeps him back, bearing on both ends ofthe bit, and holds his head squarely to the front without his having toforge ahead of the off horse sufficiently to take pressure fromcheckrein B. In turning to the left, as illustrated in Fig. 2, rein Adraws the near horse back, and, through checkrein A, pulls the off horseto the left, controlling the near horse and turning him in thatdirection.

As shown in the drawings, the main rein is attached to the loopconnecting the ends of the bit by a ring D; this ring may be allowed toplay around the strap or connection, or it may be confined by a keeperE.

It must be clearly understood that I do not limit myself to any peculiaror special connection between the ends of the bit, neither do I restrictmyself to any particular connection between the attachment of the reinand the connection with the bit.

My improvement involves a radical departure in the manner of attachingthe reins in double teams to the horses, the invention consisting,broadly, in a connection between the ends of the bit in each horse andthe main rein of that horse, whereby the horse can be controlledindependently of his companion.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination, in reins for a double harness, of a connectionbetween the ends of a bit, said connection being constructed to takebeneath the lower jaw of the horse, and a connection between the mainrein of the bit and beneath the lower jaw of the horse, andashiftharness, of a loop located beneath the lower ing connection betweenthe main rein of the jaw of a horse and having the ends thereof bit. andsaid connection between the ends connected with the ends of the bit, akeeper 15 thereof, for the purpose specified. 011 the loop, a ringengaging said keeper, and 5 3. The combination, in reins fora double themain rein of said bit, attached to said harness, of a loop locatedbeneath the lower ring, substantially as and for the purpose jaw of ahorse and having the ends thereof specified.

connected with the ends of the bit, a ring ena vv gaging said loop, andthe main rein of said JACOB S1 Elk MEAL 10 bit, attached to said ring,substantiallyas and Vitnesses:

for the purpose specified. WVM. R. GERHART,

4. The combination, in reins for a double WVILLIAM H. KELLER.

